The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-03-16

ton. She should hear from them in
few days, and in the meantime she
must kindly fill in the answers to GER
tain questions on a paper they had
given her.
"And thought should almost have
had it in my pocket by this time" she
said to herself, ruefully. "Well, | must
have patience for another week or So
1t is sure to be settled then; only-only
I'd have liked to have something GER
tain TO tell Mr.. Lawrence.
Mr.. Lawrence sympathized with her
over the delay almost as deeply as she
did with herself when she told him
the result of her visit the next day.
Barbara was quite struck with the way
he seemed to enter into all her feelings.
And they did not even give you an
idea how much it was likely to be?"
he asked.
"Not exactly" admitted Barbara;
"but they were so cautious could tell
by their manner that it must be good
deal"
81 don't know if that is altogether a
criterion. These old lawyers are very
deceptive sometimes" he rejoined
However, you can get that paper filled
up and sent in; and l would not lose
any time about it, if l were you," he
added
John Grant was the next person to
whom she had to explain her nom
success.
"Just what / expected, Miss Bar
bara," he said, cheerfully. zone is
never sure of chance of that kind till
one has actually got it. | would not
build upon it in any way, if l were in
your place"
"You don't seem to have had a for
tunate experience in that way" re-
torted Barbara, ungratefully {" 1t is
only deferred in this case, and l am in
no hurry for few days"
"Daysl" echoed John. "There's
a man in our office has waited years,
and is likely to wait, as far as l can see"
Mrs. Stewart was another painful
thorn in the path at this juncture.
Barbara, my DEAR" she remarked
one day after school was dismissed,
were you paying any attention what
ever to the practice this afternoon"
Barbara flushed scarlet. was be-
side the piano the whole time" she
declared.
"Your body may have been there,
but your mind certainly was not. Now,
my dear, you must really endeavor to
put this unfortunate legacy out of your
head for the present; you have been fit
for very little since it was first men,
toned. So far it has proved decidedly
the reverse of any advantage to you"
Ten days later came the much
looked-for communication from Messrs.
| Nod {, ElrNhnx, IN, raoaipt Of
Miss Reeds paper, and could assure
her the matter should have their best
attention, and were hers most ODE
IDENTITY" etc.
Barbara flung it into her desk with a
disappointed face. 1t was tedious to
be obliged to wait in suspense like
this. She would hardly know how to
get through the time but for Mr.. Law
rence's attention and warm interest in
the upshot. John Grants Indifference,
not to say skepticism, on the subject
threw up his rivals superior qualities
in full relief, and yet there were times
when Barbara felt just little puzzled
that Mr.. Lawrence went no farther.
With all his solicitude, and looks that
said more than words he never absO-
lutely committed himself to anything
more binding than friendship.
{" can't ask him." she said one day,
under her breath, as she walked slowly
home after one of these accidental y
meetings. "But, oh, L do wish he
would say straight out what he means
or else keep away altogether. 1t makes
one feel so unsettled"
Poor Barbara was to feel more un-
! ln1 pt,l hAfA C1A hn1 hA,
1t was lovely summer evening, and
fifty yards farther on she was joined by
another cavalier-John Grant this time
She shrank back at first, half afraid OF
some jesting inquiry after Messrs. Doc
& Son, but she speedily discovered that
he seemed to have forgotten their very
existence. There was something else
in his mind, and he lost no time in say
ing very " straight out" indeed what
it was.
6 may not be able to offer you a fine
house and luxuries," he said, g but ]
have saved plenty to begin in comfort
and / think we might be very happy
together if you would only try. have
thought about it for the last two years
and worked hard to be able to tell you
So"
Barbara looked up at him with gen.
uine tears in her eyes. 81 am sc
sorry!" she said. 81 never thought
of such thing-at least, not in serious
earnest" as she remembered sundry
remarks of Mrs. Stewards. Besides
there's lots of other better girls you
might find"
"That is not the point" he inter
, rupted; it's you, not other girls,
want. Try and think of it, Barbara
, / don't want to hurry you, but let me
have line as soon as you can; it means
good deal to me-"
Barbara went home in a kind OF
haze. She had never thought so highly
, of John Grant and his straightforward
dependableness as at that moment
but, on the other hand, there was Mr.
, Lawrence, with his handsome face and
dashing manner, and there was little
underlined sense of resentment against
J Mrs. Stewart, who had always been &
strong, ifnot entirely judicious, advocate
for John Grant; and-and then there
J was this probable fortune that might
, be coming to her. Barbara looked at the
peaceful evening sky in sore perplexity
as to what she ought to do, or what
she really wished. He said he didn't
J want to hurry me" she decided, finally